Penina Taylor speaks! “The Toybox Paradigm”

Hi Wrapunzelistas!

It’s the beginning of a new week, and many of us are probably fighting the Monday blues. Penina Taylor to the rescue! Have you found it difficult recently to celebrate others’ successes when your own life is so complicated? Is it hard not to compare yourself (or your wrap!) to everyone else’s? All of us feel like this sometimes – and Penina’s latest video is just the perfect cure. It’s quick and uplifting – watch it and get a boost! It’ll make your week so much better.

What strategies help you avoid the “Toybox Paradigm”? Have you had any challenges with this that you were able to successfully overcome? We’d love to hear more – share with us in the comments!

Happy Monday,

Naomi Rose

A Trip Down Memory Lane!

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Well, ladies, we just finished up another epic Challenge of the Week and it was awesome! For many of us, the way we covered at the beginning of our journey is totally different than how we do so today, and revisiting old scarves can be a great way to document this process. Our challenge this week was to wrap with our first Wrapunzel tichel or first scarf ever worn as a head covering and it was SO much fun! Some ladies even submitted photos of the first tichel they ever wore! So cool, right?  Thanks so much for your participation!!!

*Bonus: Can you find the Wrapunzelista dressed as a fairy, sitting in a meadow? She is a clue to the theme for this week’s challenge! Don’t forget to check out the reveal video at the bottom of this post!

For this week’s challenge, we’ve decided to step away from our day-to-day tichels and experiment with something truly fun!  A big thank you goes to Facebook fangroup member Meira, who ever so graciously suggested the wonderful idea! Check out the reveal video below:

 

 

Would you like to be featured in next week’s collage? Head on over to the Wrapunzel Fangroup and share your pictures using the hashtag #wrapunzeledincostumes. If you would also like them featured on next week’s blog post, make sure to also post them in the comments on the pinned post at the top of the Fangroup page, so we know to share them. We can accept up to 2 headshot-style photos per person– no collages, please! If you’re not on Facebook, you can also email your pictures to us at wrapunzelthestore@gmail.com with the subject line “Challenge of the Week.” Can’t wait to see what you create!!

 

***Need some costume wrapping ideas? Check out Tamar Adina’s Purim Tichel post for inspiration! Or how about duplicating one of Samantha’s historic wraps? The Girl with a Pearl Earring tutorial might be helpful. Our Star Wars post has TONS of great ideas, too!

An Extra Fancy Double-knot Turban!

Hi, my name is Rachel and I am a turban-a-holic. No, really, I’m 100% addicted to them and frequently find myself standing in front  of the mirror, experimenting with new scarves and different ways to tie them on. The possibilities are seemingly endless! Despite that fact, lately I had begun to feel a little bored with my usual go-to styles and had been looking for something new. Then, this past Shabbat, I finally found what I was looking for and discovered my favorite turban to date! I had tied similar turbans before, but never thought to layer them in this way. Why oh WHY did it take me so long to try it out?!

With my trusty teal Shiny-licious  and black/white/teal Ombre Sparkle 2 in 1, I got to work, layering them on, tying some knots and tucking the tails. The result was a formal looking wrap that almost looks like a french braid!

I’ve tried it another few times since and each attempt has led to the same smashing results. Any thin scarf will do- even 2 in 1’s! High volume, low volume and everything in between- this wrap has seriously got it going on! If you’re a turban addict like myself, this one is definitely worth giving a go.

 Ombre Sparkle 2 in 1, New York Brights & a duo of Shiny-licious scarves!

 

And… the tutorial! Hope you have fun with this one, ladies!

 

Pashmina Perfection!

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The very first scarf that I (Rachel) ever wore on my head was a pashmina. When I had finally made the decision to start covering my hair, while waiting for my first Wrapunzel order in the mail, my husband and I went out to a funky boutique and picked out my very first tichel! We were totally overwhelmed with the racks and displays of fabric before us and it was definitely an awkward experience for both of us head wrapping-newbies. Having just binge-watched tutorials, I knew a little bit about what I should be looking for, but Zahari (my husband) was totally clueless. “How about this [super slippery] silk,” he suggested. “What about this handkerchief?” “Or maybe a sarong?” (thankfully, he’s learned a lot since then!)

But just when I was ready to throw in the towel, we arrived at the shelf of pashminas. There were not many patterns to choose from and the color selection was extremely limited, yet I was immediately drawn to these luxurious scarves and knew that I would need at least one in my budding tichel collection! They felt substantial, warm, soft against my skin and because I had been growing out a freshly-shaved head, knew that the additional bulk would help conceal the fact that I had no volume underneath the scarf of my own. In the end, I had no clue which color to choose and it was Zahari that picked out a purple paisley-patterned pashmina, which marked the beginning of not only my love affair with pashminas, but with the mitzvah of head covering, as well!

Many Wrapunzelistas share my fondness of pashminas and this week’s Challenge of the Week submissions truly highlight that fact! We saw pashminas with tails and pashminas tied in turbans. Once scarf challenges,  and elaborate layered styles. What we’re left with is a collage that illustrates both the diversity of what you can do with these headscarf staples and the Wrapunzel community itself!

Looking for the reveal of this week’s theme and instructions for how to participate? Please scroll down to the bottom of this post!

 #wrapunzeledinpashminas!

 

For this week’s challenge, we’ve decided to start at the beginning. For some, the beginning might be yesterday and for others, the beginning might be last year! My beginning was with that pashmina my husband picked out… Let’s go way, way back, ladies!

 

 

Would you like to be featured in next week’s collage? Head on over to the Wrapunzel Fangroup and share your pictures using the hashtag #myfirstwrapunzel. If you would also like them featured on next week’s blog post, make sure to also post them in the comments on the pinned post at the top of the Fangroup page, so we know to share them. We can accept up to 2 headshot-style photos per person – no collages, please! If you’re not on Facebook, you can also email your pictures to us at wrapunzelthestore@gmail.com with the subject line “Challenge of the Week.” Can’t wait to see what you create!!

Tichel Tantrums? Oy Vey!

Don’t let this collage fool you! Despite the relatively small amount of photos it includes, in the fangroup we had a ton of fun with our hilarious Challenge of the Week! It seems that many Wrapunzelistas don’t wish to record photographic evidence of their #wrapunzelticheltantrums, however, the stories and pics we did see were highly entertaining! I (Rachel) had a particularly interesting experience, which I would like to share with you all:

“I had a major tichel tantrum today- in public, no less! For the first time in forever, I decided to wear my Signature Shaper with an Oomphtastic Scrunchie, but because my hair is so short, the pony tail itself was very small. The end result was just large enough to keep the tails from slipping off the back of my head. I was entering a physical rehab facility (visiting a patient) and as I caught my reflection in the front door, saw that both tails had completely fallen down and were hanging by my side! I was running late, so was forced to rewrap as I wandered the halls, en route to my destination. Thankfully, I was able to do a quick regal turban without a mirror and managed to look somewhat presentable, but still…. It was totally a ‪#‎wrapunzelticheltantrum‬!”

They can happen to anyone, right?! Tantrums ranged from, “This one seemed fine at first, but then it started falling onto my forehead and hitting my right eye, so I had to rewrap in the bathroom at my office. After that, it was fine.” to ” This regal would not come out right. I spent most of breakfast getting it to just lay right. Gave up and covered it with some bling.” to “Not so much a tichel failure as a missed opportunity.”

Check out the collage below and don’t forget to scroll down to the bottom for this week’s reveal video!

Thanks, ladies!

What one woman considers a tichel tantrum might be tichel success to another and it is definitely evident in this collage. We think they all look great! Do you have tales of tichel woes worth sharing? We’d love to hear all about them in the comments below!

As for this week’s theme, we’ve decided to focus on scarves known as “the basic building blocks of any great tichel collection.” They’re some of our favorites and one of the most versatile type of scarf we can think of!

Check it out:

 

Would you like to be featured in next week’s collage? Head on over to the Wrapunzel Fangroup and share your pictures using the hashtag #wrapunzeledinpashminas. If you would also like them featured on next week’s blog post, make sure to also post them in the comments on the pinned post at the top of the Fangroup page, so we know to share them. We can accept up to 2 headshot-style photos per person – no collages, please! If you’re not on Facebook, you can also email your pictures to us at wrapunzelthestore@gmail.com with the subject line “Challenge of the Week.” Can’t wait to see what you create!!

Hearing Equipment? No Problem!

One question that we get asked from time to time is how women with hearing aids and cochlear implants manage to wear head scarves. Does it affect the device’s functionality? How about volume level? Will the sound be muffled? Enter Wrapunzel fangroup member Mia, who ever so graciously made us this informative video on the ins and outs of wrapping with hearing equipment! She uses Wrapunzel head scarves and wrapping accessories to show you how it’s done and shares some incredibly useful tips and tricks, as well. Thank you, Mia!!!

 

Do you wrap your head with hearing equipment? What works for you? We’d LOVE to hear about it in the comments below!

Gorgeous Waterfalls!

That’s right! We don’t mean the kind that actually involve water and are fed by babbling brooks and streams, but what we are talking about is the ever-so-classic Waterfall Twist! This Challenge of the Week found us wrapping with style and grace. It was awesome seeing so many women “do the twist”!

Check out our fabulous gallery below and don’t forget to scroll down to see the theme for next week’s challenge!

 

The theme for this week’s challenge can be summed up in one photo:

 

TANTRUM

What’s going on there? Why, that would be a group tichel tantrum featuring Andrea and Naomi Rose! That’s right- our theme for this week is tichel tantrums! We want to see your tichels gone wrong! Your selfie-bloopers, accidents and more! None of us have managed to lead wrapping lifestyles free of this burden, so we thought, why not embrace the experience and share our frustrations together! This will certainly make for a hilarious compilation of photos next week!

Would you like to be featured in next week’s collage? Head on over to the Wrapunzel Fangroup and share your pictures using the hashtag #wrapunzelticheltantrum. If you would also like them featured on next week’s blog post, make sure to also post them in the comments on the pinned post at the top of the Fangroup page, so we know to share them. We can accept up to 2 headshot-style photos per person – no collages, please! If you’re not on Facebook, you can also email your pictures to us at wrapunzelthestore@gmail.com with the subject line “Challenge of the Week.” Can’t wait to see what you create!!

Yael’s 1920-style Turban!

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Here is the tutorial for a style that I (Rachel) am totally loving right now! You might remember Italian Wrapunzelista Yael from her Regal Wrap with a Twist tutorial, but today she is back with an all new turban style and we are so excited to share it with you! In Yael’s words, “I like it because it reminds me of the hats women wore in the ’20’s and ’30’s,” and how we couldn’t agree more!

If you’re a turban-lover, like myself, this one is definitely worth checking out!

Edit: The blue/olive pashmina seen here is a Woven Vines! Color option: Navy Cool

AAAAA

 

Sari Not Sorry!

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Well, ladies, #wrapunzeledinsaris was a whole lot of fun and we absolutely LOVED seeing everybody’s colorful creations! Whether a sari scarf or sash was used, each participant exhibited such creativity and care… The ways these unique scarves were used is seemingly endless and this collage is one of our favorites yet! Do you need inspiration or ideas for how to use your sari scarf? Check out the gallery below!

 

For this week’s challenge, we’re revisiting an old favorite. A style that Andrea first developed before Wrapunzel was even a store! It is easy and elegant and seems to look good on everyone… Check out the reveal video below to find out more!

 

Would you like to be featured in next week’s collage? Head on over to the Wrapunzel Fangroup and share your pictures using the hashtag #wrapunzeledinwaterfalls. If you would also like them featured on next week’s blog post, make sure to also post them in the comments on the pinned post at the top of the Fangroup page, so we know to share them. We can accept up to 5 headshot-style photos per person – no collages, please! If you’re not on Facebook, you can also email your pictures to us at wrapunzelthestore@gmail.com with the subject line “Challenge of the Week.” Can’t wait to see what you create!!

***Need to learn how to do the twist? These tutorials have the answer!

Mirjam’s gorgeous pashmina veil!

Veil tutorials are all the rage lately! First we had Samantha’s original Princess Wrap, then Andrea’s easy Wrapunzel Veil, then Naomi Rose with the Duchess Wrap. But all these techniques work best with large, thin scarves. Wrapunzelista Mirjam wanted to find a way to do a veil with a thick pashmina – and boy did she ever nail it! Here are some photos she sent us:

We’ve always admired Mirjam’s posts on the Fangroup for her bold individual style, impeccable dramatic makeup, and especially her seemingly magical way of making any pashmina cooperate and turn into a wrap straight out of a fairy tale! So we were SUPER excited when she sent us a tutorial video to share. Without further ado, here she is:

 

Lady Wrap Star: Meet Victoria!

Have you ever met a hair-covering Buddhist? We’re always amazed at the sheer number and diversity of spiritual backgrounds that inspire women to cover their hair. Check out Victoria’s beautiful and personal story below – and don’t miss her stunningly elegant wrapping style!

My name is Victoria Hogan. I’m a soap maker, business owner, homesteader, and blogger on hippiestink.com. I began wrapping part-time about five years ago, after much debate and thought. My mother is Vietnamese and a Dharma Buddhist, while my father is Irish-Romanian and Cherokee and a practicing Wiccan. I felt more connected to Buddhism, and it’s actually the main reason I wrap my hair.

My hair has always been the subject of envy from my friends. I have fine but dense hair, and in a very dark brown that is almost black. “Asian hair”, my friends would call it. People would always ask me “can I touch your hair!” Some people wouldn’t even ask and would just come up and grab it. I also would fuss over my hair, spending lots of money on conditioners and masks and product to make it look the way I wanted it. I would bother my mother to spend hours on styling it, and would spend a lot of money getting it cut the way I liked it. It became a nuisance and a distraction.

When I began practicing Buddhism in earnest, attending temple and such, I noticed the nuns all had their heads shaved bald just as the monks did. Some wore little sock caps and such, but they were completely bald. They do this to show humility, that they care not for things of this world, and that they are beyond the vanity of their hair. I did more research on the matter and learned that there are some nuns who wear coverings over their head, and that it’s common for nuns to shave bald or cover their hair. After thinking it over, noticing how vainly I viewed my hair, and debating with myself I came to the decision that as a layperson in the Buddhist faith I would cover my hair.

To me hair is a woman’s glory, her pride and joy. It’s considered a status symbol to have glorious, beautifully kept, healthy hair. I used to be so preoccupied with my hair, that it became the thing that I let define myself. I began covering my hair because I wanted to remind myself that I am more than my hair, that my vanity is less important than reaching Enlightenment and Nirvana. I began wrapping and wearing hats and snoods over my hair so I could stop focusing on how my hair looked and remember the important things: family and faith.

I cover for my faith, and I don’t let fear of what others may say and do stop me. We go often to Antwerp, where I can safely wrap because of the large Jewish population. When I’m not safe at home or among others who would not mind, I don’t wrap but wear a snood or hat. I’m glad to share my story with such amazing, beautiful women and I hope you find my story enjoyable!

Zig-Zag with Sari Scarves? Oh, YES!

FINAL2Here is a style that I (Rachel) have been wearing for a while and with our current Challenge of the Week theme being sari scarves, there has never been a better time to share the tutorial with you all! Its origins were a few months back, during a wrapping phase of mine that was particularly zig-zag heavy. Experimentation and trying different scarf combinations led to a peculiarly obvious question- why had I never tried this style with sari scarves before?!

I proceeded forward with caution, concerned with how easy the task would be to accomplish, but was pleasantly surprised at the results these unique scarves produced! Using saris with contrasting colors creates a look rather dramatic and vibrant. With similar hues and patterns, a  more subtle look is achieved. I never grow tired with experimenting with them and to be honest, think I prefer each type equally!

Anyway, sari lovers, rejoice!  I have finally made a tutorial for this incredible look and you can find it below:

Anjae Speaks About Being a Biracial Wrapunzelista

I (Andrea) am so happy to share this post with you!  I met Anjae on facebook and was moved by her beautiful writing – I just had to ask her to share her story!

Anjae’s story hits home for me in a personal way as well.  I used to teach at a school with many kids from different backgrounds and cultures.  I was always flabbergasted by some of the girls who told me how long it took to get their hair braided and how much effort went into the whole process.  Many of these girls’ mothers would approach me about my wraps and I would gladly teach them after music class was over.  I hope Anjae’s story inspires you as much as me!

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Meet Anjae!

Hello, my name is Anjae Hatley. I started wrapping about October of last year. I am biracial. My mother is black and my father is white. I have blue eyes, a thin straight nose and dark, thick, curly hair. People are always trying to figure out “what” I am. Hair was a big issue for me growing up. Being half black, there was the question of, “do you wear it natural, do you relax it, and do you use extensions?” As my grandmother always put it, “you have GOOD hair.” Being half white, I get asked all the time, “Can I touch your hair, or why don’t you straighten it- you look white anyway?” So, for much of my 34 years on this earth, my hair has been the topic of discussion for many people. When I got to college, I cut it off, super short. The woman cutting my hair made me call my mother to ask if it was “ok for her to do this to my curls.” Even after getting it cut, I still had little curls and that was still enough for men and woman to focus on. I could not get away from my own hair, it was something that everyone else seemed fixated on as a measure of my beauty. I love my hair, but I am not going to lie, it’s a lot to handle, especially living in the Midwest. My husband loves seeing me with my hair down, and curly. It makes him happy and it warms my heart to hear him say, “I love your hair like that.” Since I have been wrapping my hair, he has been supportive of my decision to cover my hair.

It’s simple, I started wrapping my hair so that the emphasis can be taken of my physical appearance and put on what matters; me being a good person, being capable at what I do, being an educated woman, etc. By wrapping my hair I feel confident when I leave me house, as before having to do my hair was a hassle and I was always fussing with it. I am so much more than my hair. I wrap because I suffer from anxiety and when I have a beautiful scarf on my head, I feel as though it allows take the time to focus on my wrap I am doing and that gives me the moment of clam I need before I start my day. I wrap because it allows me to be my authentic me. The authentic me that I speak of is a woman that has struggled with identity all her life, and has finally found something that allows me to be, without the emphasis on my physical appearance. The focus is on who I am, not what I look like. I say that stumbling upon Wrapunzel has given me so much more than learning how to wrap, it has given me a community of woman that uplift each other.

Thank you for reading my story!

One Scarf, Many Ways!

 

Let’s start this post off with a bang, shall we?

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Regular participants in our fangroup might recognize Mansikka up there and BOY did she ever take this week’s Challenge of the Week seriously! Not remembering the names of each of these styles, she came up with her own hilarious monikers and this impressive display  of tichel-wrapping skill. It’s so amazing to see this many styles all wrapped with the same scarf! Thanks for sharing them with us, Mansikka!!!

Some wrappers are comfortable taking the same scarf and wearing it multiple times in the same week, but for many others, the idea might feel extremely limiting. It can also be easy to fall into a rut and wear specific scarves in the same ways, so in this regard, we all had to flex our wrapping muscles with this challenge, for sure! A huge amount of thought and creativity went into the photos you’ll see in this week’s collage and each contributor truly does deserve a pat on the back for what she accomplished. You all totally rocked it, ladies!

Thank you so much to all who participated and don’t forget to scroll to the bottom of this post for this week’s Challenge of the Week reveal video!

 

This week’s challenge is the celebration of a very specific type of scarf. One that was first introduced to the world of head-wrapping by Andrea, well before Wrapunzel was even a store! No two are alike and our fans just can’t seem to get enough of them! You probably know what’s coming… Check out the reveal video below:

 

 

Would you like to be featured in next week’s collage? Head on over to the Wrapunzel Fangroup and share your pictures using the hashtag #wrapunzeledinsaris. If you would also like them featured on next week’s blog post, make sure to also post them in the comments on the pinned post at the top of the Fangroup page, so we know to share them. We can accept up to 5 headshot-style photos per person – no collages, please! If you’re not on Facebook, you can also email your pictures to us at wrapunzelthestore@gmail.com with the subject line “Challenge of the Week.” Can’t wait to see what you create!!

Need to learn how to tie your Sari Scarf? Check out our sari playlist on YouTube and watch the awesome tutorials below!

“Wrapunzel Under Wraps” part 2 – Very Short Hair

Many of you have seen our first “Under Wraps” video and infographic from last summer:

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Both became popular very quickly, as many women had been requesting clarification of the differences between shapers and what exactly goes on underneath wraps, for some time! However, for women with little-to-no hair,  these were not accurate representations of how our Essential Tools might work for them. Most Shapers give quite a different look when a bun or pony tail isn’t present underneath and until now, we didn’t have a proper visual guide to illustrate this.

Without further ado, may we present both our newest infographic and “Under Wraps” tutorial, showcasing all four Wrapunzel shapers, when worn over very short hair!

Shaper Comparison Final